Or the...

Henry Blake
Cutter Mellon
Midgett
Terrapin
 Polor Star or Polor Sea

Sleep, William Blake/All is well/There's a marriage up in heaven tonight/There's a fire in hell
Daniel Amos

I have to believe there's a little bit of retribution in the invite (which secretly, well not any longer secret, I love).  It's not unprecedented to have a military ship in Olympia during Lakefair but the last was the USS Olympia in 2002.  I'm sure everyone here is familiar with the 2004 council decision (4-3) to not allow the USS Olympia back in our port.

Why does it have to be a split the difference solution?  Should we always look for a split the difference solution?  I don't think so.  I'm looking forward to visiting these ships (USS Olympia won't be here but the CO and Sailor of the Year will be).  I think the U.S. vessel is the USS Ingraham.  Not sure how you arrive at more are against the visit than are for it, but wait until you see the lines to ask, "Permission to come aboard."

Seafair has the Blue Angels, the Thunderbirds perform at McChord (open to the public).  You never hear people asking to compromise these squadron's events.  No KC-130's in their place.  What fun would that be anyway!

I do hope the protest community is civil and not criminal.  I hope they are respectful of the human beings that will leave the ship for our downtown.  I hope they one day discover the real meaning of the diversity they love so much, but can't bring themselves to practice.

For what it's worth, Emmett, I think your suggestion is spot on. As Norm pointed out, there will probably be a lot more young boys wanting to check out big guns than a floating trauma unit. Of course, I'm not entirely sure we should just blindly follow the whims of little boys...

I can't for the life of me remember where, but I heard a parental aphorism recently that goes something like this: we don't have to teach our kids to hit, they do that naturally; we have to teach them not to. Having spent a lot of time at playgrounds over the last year (being a parent sounds perverse), this statement's truth value is rapidly increasing for me. Inviting a ship like the USNS Mercy would be an excellent teaching opportunity.

Which is the mightier nation: that which can afford to send its military abroad, or that which can afford to send its medicine?

"I am PRO-masturbation...This seems like a win/win situation all around!

 Pro-peace people need to act peaceful.

I hope that the pro-war people don't act like the person that I saw get in the face of one of the Women in Black and start screaming.

"There is only one race, the human race" - The Neville Brothers

Ugh - yet again.   

Security issue may prevent ships’ visit

Unless the TCSO steps up and handles the security detail, it doesn't look like we'll even see the ships.  Once again, the council chambers are packed with TJ's friends and once again, they prevail in dictating every twist and turn this city takes when it comes to the military.

Pulling out to see the forest, this is all starting to resemble an archetype. There exist people for whom a military presence is desired, those whose apathy creates unknowns and those who grow uncomfortable with armed occupation.

A military presence feels like an act of force against some residents. Keeping the military out feels like an act of force against some residents. And the ideologies are joined in struggle.

Really this entire thing is an argument over symbols and their social relevance. If as many locals as those who see no/negative value in military symbols ceased to recognize the meaning of a red light, the struggle would manifest itself in car accidents and unenforceable laws. In our current case, however, the wrecks are mostly psychological and the existing schisms are widened. Unfortunately, as the archetypal vehicle is one of militarism, even attempts to oppose it with non-violence are likely to be met with force. Birds of a feather, and all...

"I am PRO-masturbation...This seems like a win/win situation all around!"

Battleships, Carriers, Frigates and Cruisers have sex appeal! Well...if you like Ghost Gull Gray. That thing looks like a huge Tylenol or a naughty nurse halloween costume :)

I'm going back to my cave now...

The facts are pretty clear from my mind: The city didn't budget to provide extra security for Lakefair, thus don't have the money. They also apparantly were very clear with the Lakefair committee that Oly was on a fixed income regarding the fair, the organizers went ahead and invited three military ships. I don't think that makes it Olympia's fault, especially not TJ's fault. Of course people showed up to bitch about warships, that's the m.o. for a lot of people in this town, but they had nothing to do with stopping the ships from coming, and saying they did is giving them credit they don't deserve.